Latin Name: Auraspiritus Piscis Meaning: Air Breathing Fish
Oxyfish
Scientific Classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Sarcopterygii
Subclass:
Dipnoi
Family:
Auraspiritidae
Genus:
Auraspiritus
Species:
Auraspiritus Piscis
Habitat
As much time will have has passed, 250 million years, obviously the Earth will look very different. Pangaea Ultima, as many have already entitled this future supercontinent (including NASA) will consist of the present-day continent; Africa, South America, North America and Eurasia. Australia will have merged with Antarctica to form new separate continent. The Oxyfish evolved from species of lungfish which originated in Australia. The Oxyfish will live in the areas marked in red on the map of Pangaea Ultima. Their general location is the north-east of the former Australian continent, as well as the southern-most region of Asia.
Red = the Oxyfish Distribution
The locations mentioned before experience the ideal climate for the Oxyfish. It enjoys warm, dry temperatures during the summer season and crisp, moderate temperatures in winter. This fish thrives in dark freshwater rivers and lakes at depths of over 20 metres, a great deal deeper compared to its ancestors.
Oxyfish's predicted Natural Habitat
Most of the time, the Oxyfish is more of a hunter than the hunted. They have many adaptations which allow them to lurk the dim waters without any worries. Occasionally, some of the very few predators do make attacks on this fish. The adaptations of the Oxyfish, which I will mention later, are based on self-defence. Therefore, this lungfish can escape some incredibly deadly situations.
The amount of decent spawning sites will diminish over time, due to changes in the environment, such as climate and human infrastructure. This will result in an extremely low percentage of eggs being spawned, and nearly drive the species to extinction. Luckily, some lungfish shall survive because they will be forced to swim much deeper than ever before to discover safe and suitable spawning habitats. The newborn larvae will be heavily protected in the thick aquatic vegetation. Oxyfishes will begin to roam the depths of large lakes and rivers.
Adaptations
Oxyfish with labelled Adaptations
2 Structural
Sharper Teeth: Lungfishes have had a long lasting rivalry against the freshwater fishes, Tilapia. They are well-known for their aggressive attitude when taking over a lungfish’s habitat and for eating their eggs. Over time, the Oxyfish has adapted to the threat from this invasive predator and learned to fight back. This structural adaptation has helped the Oxyfish protect the well-being of the larvae and eggs. Razor-sharp teeth have formed in mouth of this lungfish. With the aid from its powerful fin, it can make vicious attacks on the tilapia.
The environmental pressure which caused this structural adaptation is the consistent threat from the bothersome tilapia. These jagged teeth will also assist when chewing up solid a food; this is a common trait within the lungfish family.
Frilled Neck:Another structural adaptation of the Oxyfish is the development of a frilled-neck. Very similar to the modern day – Frilled Neck Lizard. It is simply used for the same situation. When the Oxyfish senses a predator (Venospike Ray) with its electroreception, it spreads its frilled neck to display bright colours on the scaly skin folds. Its sole purpose is to frighten or startle the predator so that it either flees or hesitates, allowing the Oxyfish to make an attack.
An environmental pressure which could force this adaptation is the consistent threat from predators and the need for some sort of self-defence. This will increase the chance of the juveniles growing to adults.
2 Behavioural
Reproduction: Their original spawning sites were insufficient; this meant that if the lungfish wanted to reproduce, they would have to locate a much healthier and stable environment. Lungfish are known for their reluctance to moving to a new spawning site. Only the Oxyfish consistently reproduces, due to a behavioural adaptation which allows it to venture out for a much more protected and suitable habitat for the larvae.
The mostly likely environmental pressure would be that fewer and fewer breeding spots are available due to a lack of vegetation, water quality and danger from predators (such as the Tilapia). The Oxyfish would search and discover further habitats, which are more appropriate for their spawning, and as a result the larvae would survive.
Protection of Eggs: Due to the lack of safety in spawning sites, the lungfish could not leave their eggs by themselves, which is the usual practice for lungfish in our present time. The Oxyfish would be the only lungfish to survive due to another important behavioural adaptation. Eventually, the unique fish will have to spawn the eggs in the most appropriate habitat that they can find. Additionally, they will stay with the larvae, to provide parental protection, until up to about 4 months, when the young have almost fully developed and can fight off any possible predators by themself.
The environmental pressure which could lead to this behavioural adaptation is the threat from predators. As I mentioned before, the Tilapia is a well-known predator to the lungfish species. Lungfish eggs are an important part of their diet. Therefore, this protection provided by the parents would ultimately increase the chance of survival in the early stages of life.
1 Physiological
The Oxyfish does not have many predators, because it is such a large and intimidating creature. To add to all of the previously mentioned adaptations, here is important physiological adaptation which will prevent even more harassment to the Oxyfish species. Neighbouring the heart, a very special gland will form, which produces a steady flow of toxins into the blood stream of the lungfish. It is absolutely harmless to itself, but if a droplet of blood reaches the mouth of predator, they are instantaneously paralysed. This particular toxin-producing organ is called the “Paralysis Gland”.
An environmental pressure which could have caused this physiological adaptation is the ongoing threat from predators. Structural adaptations have improved greatly over time, but cannot help the fish anymore than it is already. This change will prevent much larger animals from hunting the Oxyfish, and ultimately boost the chance of its survival.
References
Date Retrieved - Author
Title – Last Update - Website Address
15th July - Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2010)
Oxyfish (Future)
Latin Name: Auraspiritus Piscis
Meaning: Air Breathing Fish
Scientific Classification
Habitat
As much time will have has passed, 250 million years, obviously the Earth will look very different. Pangaea Ultima, as many have already entitled this future supercontinent (including NASA) will consist of the present-day continent; Africa, South America, North America and Eurasia. Australia will have merged with Antarctica to form new separate continent. The Oxyfish evolved from species of lungfish which originated in Australia. The Oxyfish will live in the areas marked in red on the map of Pangaea Ultima. Their general location is the north-east of the former Australian continent, as well as the southern-most region of Asia.
The locations mentioned before experience the ideal climate for the Oxyfish. It enjoys warm, dry temperatures during the summer season and crisp, moderate temperatures in winter. This fish thrives in dark freshwater rivers and lakes at depths of over 20 metres, a great deal deeper compared to its ancestors.
Most of the time, the Oxyfish is more of a hunter than the hunted. They have many adaptations which allow them to lurk the dim waters without any worries. Occasionally, some of the very few predators do make attacks on this fish. The adaptations of the Oxyfish, which I will mention later, are based on self-defence. Therefore, this lungfish can escape some incredibly deadly situations.
The amount of decent spawning sites will diminish over time, due to changes in the environment, such as climate and human infrastructure. This will result in an extremely low percentage of eggs being spawned, and nearly drive the species to extinction. Luckily, some lungfish shall survive because they will be forced to swim much deeper than ever before to discover safe and suitable spawning habitats. The newborn larvae will be heavily protected in the thick aquatic vegetation. Oxyfishes will begin to roam the depths of large lakes and rivers.
Adaptations
2 Structural
The environmental pressure which caused this structural adaptation is the consistent threat from the bothersome tilapia. These jagged teeth will also assist when chewing up solid a food; this is a common trait within the lungfish family.
An environmental pressure which could force this adaptation is the consistent threat from predators and the need for some sort of self-defence. This will increase the chance of the juveniles growing to adults.
2 Behavioural
The mostly likely environmental pressure would be that fewer and fewer breeding spots are available due to a lack of vegetation, water quality and danger from predators (such as the Tilapia). The Oxyfish would search and discover further habitats, which are more appropriate for their spawning, and as a result the larvae would survive.
The environmental pressure which could lead to this behavioural adaptation is the threat from predators. As I mentioned before, the Tilapia is a well-known predator to the lungfish species. Lungfish eggs are an important part of their diet. Therefore, this protection provided by the parents would ultimately increase the chance of survival in the early stages of life.
1 Physiological
The Oxyfish does not have many predators, because it is such a large and intimidating creature. To add to all of the previously mentioned adaptations, here is important physiological adaptation which will prevent even more harassment to the Oxyfish species. Neighbouring the heart, a very special gland will form, which produces a steady flow of toxins into the blood stream of the lungfish. It is absolutely harmless to itself, but if a droplet of blood reaches the mouth of predator, they are instantaneously paralysed. This particular toxin-producing organ is called the “Paralysis Gland”.
An environmental pressure which could have caused this physiological adaptation is the ongoing threat from predators. Structural adaptations have improved greatly over time, but cannot help the fish anymore than it is already. This change will prevent much larger animals from hunting the Oxyfish, and ultimately boost the chance of its survival.
References
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=67620